|
A defeat to the Tangerines would put Tranmere nine points behind their North West rivals, who currently occupy the last play-off place and would all but end their promotion dreams. However, a victory would leave them just three points behind the Seasiders and results elsewhere could see them pull closer to the likes of Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, also in the play-offs.
Blackpool team profile:
Formed: 1877
Ground:
Manager: Simon Grayson
Nickname: The Tangerines
Season Finish 2005/06: 19th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous meetings:
It was a lively Friday night in November when the teams last met, with Rovers running away 2-0 winners at Prenton Park.
It took Rovers just 50 seconds to put early pressure on the teams above them (Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest), as a slip from ex-Tranmere player Mike Jackson allowed the ball to run through to Chris Shuker.
Shuker crossed the ball to Steve Davies, who saw his shot saved by Rhys Evans. However, the ball fell to Chris Greenacre who put the ball into the back of the net - his fourth goal in four games.
Both sides had sustained periods of pressure as each looked for the next goal which would be crucial in deciding the out come of the game.
Fortunatly for the Rovers fans, it was their team who got it through Steve Davies, netting his first (and only) goal of the season to date, and his third Rovers goal.
Taylor's shot was palmed away to Shuker by Evans, with Shuker passing inside to Davies who fired into the net from 10 yards in front of the Kop.
Vital Stats:
In 15 meetings between the two sides at Blackpool, there have only ever been two draws
Eight of the 31 meetings between the two sides have come in Cup competitions
Tranmere have three times done the double over Blackpool, compared to the Seasiders doing the double over Rovers just once
Tranmere are unbeaten against Blackpool in six games
Tranmere have won 11 out of 21 games played on April 7th
The Form Book:
Blackpool last 6 homes games: WDWLLL
Tranmere last 6 away games: LWLWLL
Blackpool's form over the last few months at Bloomfield Road has been nothing special, although they are currently on a three match unbeaten run at their home ground.
Last weekend, The Seasiders got a 2-1 win over Crewe which saw them go six points clear of Tranmere, this after a 0-0 draw with Brighton who Tranmere play on Monday. The other game in the three match unbeaten run saw them beat Bournemouth 2-0 in Lancashire.
However before this win against Bournemouth, 'Pool had lost three in a row at home, with defeats against Millwall (1-0), Bristol City (1-0) and Brentford (3-1) so they have struggled to some extent at home in recent weeks.
Other noteable results at Bloomfield Road for Blackpool this season include wins over Bradford (4-1), Huddersfield (3-1), Doncaster (3-1) and Leyton Orient (3-0).
In total, Blackpool have played 20 home games this season, winning nine, drawing six and losing five. They have picked up a total of 33 points from and available 60.
Tranmere's inconsistency on the road continues to be the reason as to why they are not in the promotion reckoning at the moment, as they have still failed to put together two consecutive away wins since the 2004/05 season when they beat Huddersfield and Colchester away from home.
In their last six away games, Tramere have twice looked excellent and won and four times looked poor and lost, although there are much stronger words than "poor" to describe Tranmere's performance at Bournemouth.
Most recently on the road was that game at Bournemouth for Rovers, where Ronnie Moore's side lost 2-0, had Ian Goodison sent off and failed to register a shot on target, this after a stunning 3-2 win over Port Vale seven days earlier.
Previous to the Port Vale defeat, Tranmere had lost 3-1 at Leyton Orient, this coming after a brilliant 2-0 win at Yeovil where Chris shuekr scored two second half goals to secure Tranmere the win.
Before the Yeovil win, Tranmere were without an away victory since November 18th when they beat Brighton 1-0, with the other two games in the six match sequence seeing them lost to Oldham Athletic (1-0) and Gillingham (2-0), live on Sky TV, another team fighting against relegation like Leyton Orient and Bournemouth.
Other noteable away results for Tranmere this season include victories at Chesterfield (2-0) and Northampton (3-1) along with draws against Nottingham Forest (1-1) and Scunthorpe United (1-1).
From a total of 20 away games this season, Tranmere have picked up just 21 points from an available 60, with five wins, six draws and nine defeats.
Double Hit:
With the two clubs being so close together geographically, obviously a number of players have represented each club, one being former Rovers captain Mickey Mellon.
He started his career with Bristol City in 1989, making 48 appearances and scoring once with the club where he startd out as a trainee in four seasons with the club.
In 1993, the defensive midfielder moved to West Brom for £75,000 where he stayed for nearly two years. In his time with the club he made 57 league and cup appearances and scored seven goals before moving on again, this time to Blackpool in 1994.
Mellon stayed with Blackpool for three years after his £50,000 transfer, making nearly 150 appearances for the club and scoring 17 goals before teaming up with Tranmere Rovers and John Aldridge for the first time on October 10th 1997 as he signed for £300,000.
Mellon stayed on the Wirral for two seasons, making over 60 appearances before joining Burnley for £350,000 in 1999. He made a further 94 appearances, scoring five goals, before re-joining Aldridge and Tranmere as they battled against relegation from Division 1 in 2001, initially on loan before making the transfer permanent in March 2001.
Under managaers Aldridge, Mathias, Watson and Little, Mellon went on to make another 140 appearances for Tranmere and was made club captain, scoring seven goals in three years before being released by Brian Little at the end of the 2003/04 season.
Mellon then joined Kidderminster in August 2004, making 12 appearances before retiring from football in December 2004.
One To Watch:
One key player for Blackpool all season has been winger Wes Hoolahan who wears the number 27 shirt for The Tangerines.
24-year old Hoolahan is currently on a season long loan at Blackpool from Scottish side Livingstone, where he made his break into football last season, making 19 appearances for the Scottish side.
At the start of the season, Hoolahan joined Blackpool and has terrorized defences in League One ever since, making 40 appearances and scored seven goals.
However, it is his assists count which must be most interesting, as he has provided various goals for Blackpool this season with his pace, trickery and crossing ability down the wing.
Team News:
Tranmere will welcome back Ian Goodison after the defender was suspended for Rovers' 2-0 defeat to Carlisle last Friday after he was dismissed against Bournemouth. John Thompson could also be in the frame for a return for Tranmere although he didn't play in the reserves win against Blackpool this week but John Achterberg will once again miss out with a knee injury. Paul McLaren will also be on the sides lines once again with an ankle injury.
Jones' Prediction: Blackpool 1-2 Tranmere